Mission

There is a clear path to a brighter economic future, and it depends on how we raise our youngest children.

It is often said that it takes a village to raise a child. From the very beginning, a child is at the center of a web or network of relationships that contribute to her/his optimal development. The village is different for different children, but there is one for every child… or there should be.

The mission of the Great Start Collaborative of Traverse Bay and its partner organization Great Start Parents is to make this the best place in the world to be a kid – by ensuring that a strong system of resources is available to all families and the most vulnerable children receive the supports they need to succeed.

We invite you to explore the Strategic Plan and other important documents (click on THE COLLABORATIVE tab) to learn about the goals we’ve identified and our plans for achieving them, and to consider what role you might play in this work. There are many ways individuals and organizations can be involved, from membership in the GSC, which is open to all interested community members and organizations, or Great Start Parents, which is open to parents, grandparents and guardians of children birth to age twelve, to participation on working groups, advisory committees or volunteering to help with specific events and activities.